ACI (Advance Commercial Information)
This multimodal initiative introduced by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is a major part of the Customs Action Plan to better manage risks by identifying health, safety, and security threats at the border. ACI requires key data for ocean, air, rail and truck shipments to be transmitted electronically in advance of arrival in Canada.
Monetary penalties can be assessed against companies that fail to comply with the ACI advance reporting timeframes.
Highway (Land)
ACI Highway eManifest is an extension of the ACI ocean and air initiatives that will require the electronic transmission of advance cargo and conveyance information to CBSA from carriers for all highway shipments before entering Canada.
CBSA ACI Highway eManifest is the Canadian equivalent of the U.S. CBP Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) eManifest program. Transmission of highway cargo and conveyance data must be received and processed by the CBSA a minimum of one hour before arrival at First Point of Entry.
| Timelines to Implementation | |
| 0-12 months: | Once all eManifest reporting systems (EDI and Web Portal) become publicly available, there will be a 12-month period for clients to incorporate eManifest requirements into their business processes. |
| 12-18 months: | After the initial year, the eManifest regulations will take effect and be mandatory; however, the CBSA will offer a six-month period of informed compliance with no issuance of AMPS (Administrative Monetary Penalty System). |
| 18 months+: | The implementation timeline is complete. Clients may be subject to AMPS penalties |
| Roll Out Schedule | |
| Highway carriers | |
| Spring 2010 | EDI submission of highway eManifest becomes available to carriers |
| Fall 2010 | CBSA will offer an eManifest Web Portal service option |
| Spring 2010 | Although EDI users can begin transmitting eManifest information, the 18-month implementation timeline for all highway carriers to transmit cargo and conveyance data will begin in Fall 2010 |
| Rail carriers | |
| Fall 2010 | The 18-month implementation timeline will begin for rail carriers to transmit cargo and conveyance data |
| Freight forwarders | |
| Summer 2011 | The 18-month implementation timeline will begin for freight forwarders in all modes of transportation to transmit secondary cargo / house bill data for inland cargo movements within Canada |
| Importers | |
| Spring 2012 | The 18-month implementation timeline will begin for importers in all modes of transportation to begin transmission of advance trade data; this requirement is similar to the US 10+2 ISF (Importer Security Filing) requirement |
Ocean (Marine)
ACI requires marine carriers to electronically transmit marine cargo data to the CBSA 24 hours prior to loading cargo at a foreign port (including the U.S.). If the voyage is less than 24 hours in duration, the cargo and conveyance data must be reported at the time of departure from the foreign port.
Ocean Reporting Features
CrimsonLogic’s WebCustoms allows trade participants to submit the full array of CBSA mandated requirements such as Conveyance Reporting (A6) and Cargo Reporting (A6A). A Supplementary Reporting (S10) feature is available for containers consigned to freight forwarders. In such cases, the carrier must provide the freight forwarder with the original Cargo Control Number (CCN).
WebCustoms also relays Risk Assessment Notices when applicable. "Do Not Load," "Do Not Unload," "Hold," and "Cancellation" messages are sent back through the portal. These messages are easily accessed, allowing users to rapidly take the appropriate corrective measures.
| Timeframes for Conveyance Reporting | |
| International Cargo | |
| Conveyances with containerized cargo | 96-hours Prior to Arrival |
| Conveyances with non-authorized break-bulk cargo | 96-hours Prior to Arrival |
| Conveyances with authorized break-bulk cargo | 24-hours Prior to Arrival |
| Conveyances with bulk cargo | 24-hours Prior to Arrival |
| Conveyances with empty marine containers | 96-hours Prior to Arrival |
| United States Cargo | |
| Conveyances with containerized, bulk or break bulk or empty containers | 24-hours Prior to Arrival |
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Timeframes for Supplementary Reporting |
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| International Supplementary Cargo | |
| Containerized cargo | 24-hours Prior to Loading |
| Non-authorized break-bulk cargo | 24-hours Prior to Loading |
| Authorized break-bulk cargo | 24-hours Prior to Arrival |
| Bulk Cargo | 24-hours Prior to Arrival |
| Empty marine containers | 96-hours Prior to Arrival |
| United States Supplementary Cargo | |
| Containerized, bulk or break-bulk | 24-hours Prior to Arrival |
| Empty marine containers | 4-hours Prior to Arrival |
Air Cargo
ACI Program requires all air carriers and freight forwarders to electronically transmit conveyance, cargo and supplementary cargo data to the CBSA four hours prior to arrival in Canada. If the flight is less than four hours in duration, conveyance, cargo and supplementary cargo data must be reported at the time of departure from the foreign airport.
Air Reporting Features
Similarly to ACI Ocean, WebCustoms allows trade participants to submit the full range of CBSA mandated requirements such as Air Conveyance Reporting (ACVR), and Air Cargo Reporting (ACR) and Split Shipment Reporting (SSR). A Supplementary Cargo Report (SCR) feature is available for shipments consigned to freight forwarders.
WebCustoms also relays Risk Assessment Notices when applicable. "Hold" and "Hold Cancellation" messages are sent back through the portal. These messages are easily accessed, allowing users to rapidly take the appropriate corrective measures.
| Timeframes for Air Conveyance Reporting | |
| Conveyances with commercial cargo and a flight in excess of four hours | Four hours prior to arrival |
| Conveyances with commercial cargo and a flight less than four hours | Time of departure |
| Commercial cargo on a flight in excess of four hours | Four hours prior to arrival |
| Commercial cargo on a flight less than four hours | Time of departure |
| Supplementary cargo reports for commercial cargo on a flight in excess of four hours | Four hours prior to arrival |
| Supplementary cargo reports for commercial cargo on a flight less than four hours | Time of departure |
Who is Responsible for Data Transmission?
The CBSA requires all marine, air, rail and highway carriers to transmit conveyance and cargo reports (including supplementary cargo reports where applicable). This is for all conveyances that are loaded with commercial goods and that arrive at a port in Canada. The requirement applies to all import, in-transit and freight remaining on board (FROB) shipments.
Although the carrier is responsible for cargo reporting, freight forwarders are permitted to transmit supplementary cargo reports directly to the CBSA.
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